Dual action microswitch actuator

ABSTRACT

An electrical control device generally comprises a body, a micro-switch lodged in the body and attached to the body, and a manually operable control element. The control element can be displaced between first and second displaced positions and is adapted to actuate the micro-switch when displaced to the second displaced position. When displaced to the first displaced position, the control element also can be rotated between first and second rotated positions. The control element is adapted to actuate the micro-switch when rotated to the second rotated position and is biased to said first rotated position.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,829,644 Annettoni Aug. 13, 1974 DUAL ACTION MICROSWITCH 3,348,014 10/1967 Brown 200/172 A ACTUATOR 3,478,182 11/1969 Littman ZOO/61,46 3,612,785 10/1971 Baldwin 200 4 [75] Inventor: Ezio Annettoni, Lecco, Italy [73] Assignee: Chemetron Corporation, Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Feb. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 332,846

[52] US. Cl. 200/153 T, 200/4, 200/172 A [51] llnt. Cl. H0lh 25/00 [58] Field of Search. 200/153 T, 172 A, 4, 153 LA,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,659,864 2/1928 Eaton 200/60 2,564,612 8/1951 Schneider 200/60 2,612,049 9/1952 Koch, Jr. ZOO/172 A UX 3,115,555 12/1963 Lescarboura 200/153 T X 3,226,502 12/1965 Schotz 200/60 3,243,528 3/1966 Brady 200/4 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-William J. Smith Attorney, Agent, or FirmN. M. Esser [57] ABSTRACT An electrical control device generally comprises a body, a micro-switch lodged in the .body and attached to the body, and a manually operable control element. The control element can be displaced between first and second displaced positions and is adapted to actuate the micro-switch when displaced to the second displaced position. When displaced to the first displaced position, the control element also can be rotated between first and second rotated positions. The control element is adapted to actuate the micro-switch when rotated to the second rotated position and is biased to said first rotated position.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures having actuated the control element, releases the control element. In the latter instance, in order to interrupt the contact, it will be necessary that the operator act suitably on the control element in order to bring it back to its rest position.

The device according to the present invention generally comprises a body, a micro-switch lodged in the body and attached to the body, and a manually operable control element. The control element can perform two distinct movements, more precisely a movement of rotation which causes the control element to act on the micro-switch in such a way as to determine an electrical control condition and a movement of displacement which also causes the control element to act on the micro-switch in order to determine the electrical control condition. A return spring reacts on the control element, when the control element accomplishes such movement of rotation, whereby, the control element returns automatically to its rest position if the operator releases the control element. The control element instead is stable, when the control element accomplishes such movement of displacement, whereby the control element can return to its rest position only through the intervention of the operator. I

In order to demonstrate better these and other characteristic details of the device according to the present innovation, there is described below an embodiment of the device according to the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows the device cross-sectioned according to line I-I of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the device; and

FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of a body forming part of the device.

The device in question is particularly adapted as an electrical control device for electrical welding torches.

The device comprises a body or support indicated in the drawing by 1. In the body 1 there is lodged a microswitch 6, which is attached on the same body 1, in the position 8. A movable element 2, which is lodged in the body 1, protrudes from one end of the body 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The element 2 comprises two curved portions, indicated respectively by 11 and 12, which, when the element 2 is in a rest position, are found respectively in two seats or cavities 13 and 14 of the body 1, as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

A screw is fixed on the body 1 as an integral assembly with the body 1. A small spring 4, formed of a blade, for example of steel, is mounted to the body 1 by the screw 5. The small spring 4 has a hole, through which the screw 5 extends, whereby the small spring 4 cannot be displaced relative to the body 1 in the direction of the arrow F.

Between the head of the screw 5 and the small spring 4, a spiral spring 3 tends to press the small spring 4 downwardly (FIG. -1). The control element 2 has an elongated slot 15, through which the screw 5 also extends, and thus said hole 15 allows the element 2 to accomplish displacements toward the right and the left (FIGS. 1 and 2).

As has been indicated above, the device is particularly adapted for the control of 'electical welding torches. The body I is fixedly mounted to the handle of the welding torch, as shown schematically in FIGS. I and 3 and indicated by 16. To mount the body I, suitable screws are inserted through holes 10 in the body 1. Two curved parts of the body 1, including the holes 10, are caused partially to embrace the handles 16. Furthermore, a curved part 17 of the body 1 penetrates into the extremity of said handle 16, as shown in FIG. 1.

The operator, holding with his hand the handle 16, can act on thecontrol element 2. In particular, as the element 2 is pressed upwardly (FIG. 1), the element 2 is rotated, and thus lifted from the lower wall (FIG. 1) of the body 1, while the portion 12 of the element 2 remains lodged in the seat 14. The portion 12 forms a fulcrum of a lever constituted by the element 2.

Therefore, while the portion 12 remains lodged in the seat 14, thus functioning as a fulcrum, and the lever 2 rotates upwardly, at a certain point the small spring 4, also drawn upward by the lever 2, acts on the push button 19 of the micro-switch 6. Thus a contact (not shown) of the micro-switch 6 is closed such that an electrical control condition is obtained.

Rotating upwardly, the small lever 2 comprises the spring 3. Therefore, it is clear that, when the operator releases the small lever 2, the latter returns to its rest position, as shown in FIG. 1, owing to the action of the small spring 3.

Therefore the pushbutton remains actuated while the operator keeps the small lever 2 raised with his finger. It is furthermore possible to obtain an electrical control condition which remains stable, that is, which requires the intervention of the operator to accomplish the opening of the contact.

More particularly, in order to obtain such control condition, the operator pushes the control element 2 in the direction of the arrow F, as shown in FIG. 1. In that case, the element 2 is displaced until its right-hand extremity (FIG. 1) reaches the wall 19 of the body 1.

It is clear that with such displacement, owing to the curved parts 11 and 12 of the element 2, which glides in contact with the lower wall P of the body 1, the element 2 is raised slightly, that is the parts 11 and 12 coming out of the seats 13 and 14 effect a displacement of the element 2 upwardly. Along with such displacement, the small spring 4 also is displaced upwardly, Thus the small spring 4 acts on the push button 19.

Having reached that upwardly displaced position, the element 2 remains in place. Particularly, it is observed that the small spring 3, which also reacts by pressing the element 2 downwardly, presses the element 2 against the wall P, to confer a certain stability on the position reached by the element 2.

In order to bring back the element 2 to the position of rest, it will be necessary to press the element 2 in the direction opposite to that of the arrow F, whereby,

owing to the action of the small spring 3, the curved parts 11 and 12 will return to the seats 13 and 14.

The micro-switch 6 is surrounded by an insulating part 7. It is observed that, between the element 2 and the push-button 19, there is no rigid connection, but rather, an elastic means, namely the small spring 4. Thus, even if the operator should use force greater than necessary in pulling the element 2 upwardly, the small spring 4 would yield such that breakages in the microswitch 6 would be avoided.

When the element 2 is displaced toward the left (FIGS. 1 and 2) to return to its rest position, the element 2 is arrested against the wall 18 of body 1. It is observed that with a single tightening of the screw the control ensemble is mounted over the pushbutton of the micro-switch.

' A significant advantage arises from the fact that the same movable element 2 can lend itself to two types of movement, as above described, in one of which the return is automatically determined by the spring 3, while in the other the return is determined instead by the operator who must suitably actuate the element 2.

I claim:

1. An electrical control device comprising a body having a pair of curved seats, a micro-switch having a push button and beinglodged in and attached to said body, a control element having a pair of curved projections fittable within said seats, a spring mounted between said control element and said push button, said control element being manually displaceable relative to said body between a first stable displaced position in which said projections are fitted within said seats and a second stable displaced position in which said control element and said spring are lifted together relative to said body and toward said push button as said projections come out of said seats such that said spring depresses said push button to actuate said micro-switch, said control element when in said first displaced position also being manually rotatable relative to said body upon a fulcrum formed by one of said projections fitted into one of said seats between a first rotated position in which said micro-switch is not actuated and a second rotated position in which said spring depresses said push button to actuate said micro-switch, and means for biasing said spring against said control element and said control element to said first rotated position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a screw fastened to said body through an opening in said spring and through an elongated slot in said control element and a coiled spring piloted over said screw to urge said spring against said control element and said control element against said body. 

1. An electrical control device comprising a body having a pair of curved seats, a micro-switch having a push button and being lodged in and attached to said body, a control element having a pair of curved projections fittable within said seats, a spring mounted between said control element and said push button, said control element being manually displaceable relative to said body between a first stable displaced position in which said projections are fitted within said seats and a second stable displaced position in which said control element and said spring are lifted together relative to said body and toward said push button as said projections come out of said seats such that said spring depresses said push button to actuate said micro-switch, said control element when in said first displaced position also being manually rotatable relative to said body upon a fulcrum formed by one of said projections fitted into one of said seats between a first rotated position in which said micro-switch is not actuated and a second rotated position in which said spring depresses said push button to actuate said micro-switch, and means for biasing said spring against said control element and said control element to said first rotated position.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a screw fastened to said body through an opening in said spring and through an elongated slot in said control element and a coiled spring piloted over said screw to urge said spring against said control element and said control element against said body. 